Geneva Green Market: Geneva, Illinois – A Local Food Green Farmers Market

AT one time specialty fruits/vegetables were defined as vegetables and/or herbs that were not traditionally grown in the U.S. but were imported to the U.S. or were grown in the US, although on a limited scale. Specialty vegetables were also referred to as exotic, unusual, world vegetables, and/or high-value crops.

On the United States Department of Agriculture’s website the definition of Specialty Crops is stated as follows:

The Specialty Crop Competitiveness Act of 2004 and the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 have defined specialty crops as “fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture).” Eligible plants must be intensively cultivated and used by people for food, medicinal purposes, and/or aesthetic gratification to be considered specialty crops.

Specialty vegetables are sometimes called the “eccentric ones”. What may be common to some couldn’t be more foreign  to someone else. They can, and often are, oddly colored, shaped or shaped (at times all three). Others you can’t tell apart till the first sample. Specialty crops can be often difficult to grow, can be  grown out of season, or are “foreign” to where they are grown. They may be miniatures or heirlooms or vegetables prized by epicurean cooks. Despite all their differences what they all can have in common, besides being somehow unusual, is that they often command a higher price than their ordinary counterparts. Specialty vegetables are in greatly increasing in demand. Read more

Who: 5th Annual CFPAC Summit
What: Growing Healthy Food Systems: Block by Block
Where: UIC Forum – University of Illinois at Chicago
When: Friday, March 12th 2010, 8:00am-5:00pm

Please join us at the 5th Annual Chicago Food Policy Summit to learn, strategize and connect with others who are all Growing Healthy Food Systems, Block by Block!

• Activate your neighborhood council
• Contribute to a policy working group
• Share a delicious meal
• Guest Participant: Michael Dimock, Roots of Change

Online registrations has begun!
to purchase tickets: http://www.familyfarmedexpo.com/foodpolicysummit/summittickets.html

$40.00 donation covers cost of Summit
$60.00 donation covers Summit + Advertising space in program
$100.00 donation covers Summit + Family Farmed Localicious Party
(limited scholarships are available – become a sponsor to help offer additional scholarships!)

Scholarship Information and Questions? info [at] chicagofoodpolicy [dot] org
For more details and to view the schedule visit: www.chicagofoodpolicy.org <http://www.chicagofoodpolicy.org/>

Hope to see you there!

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The Chicago Food Policy Advisory Council (CFPAC) facilitates the development of responsible policies that improve access for Chicago residents to culturally appropriate, nutritionally sound, and affordable food that is grown through environmentally sustainable practices.

Chefs and localvores have long been singing the praises of farm-fresh eggs and most can’t imagine having any other then free-range from the farm. Ask a chef and a localvore what makes them loyal to farm fresh eggs you’d probably get two different answers.  Chefs tend to favor the texture, freshness and richness of golden hues. Where a localvore might initially focus more on how the eggs were raised. The chickens are outdoors in the pasture where they are free to roam at their leisure, get all the sunshine they want. As well as freely forage for there own food of grasses, worms and insects, all while enjoying the breezes of the season.

Most farmers that raise free-range chickens have movable pens or houses for their chickens. These “pastures” are moved from place to place giving the chickens fresh grazing areas on a regular basis. With this set up, the chickens will have some protection from predators.  What about antibiotics and hormones you ask? Antibiotic-free means that the chickens were never fed antibiotics at anytime in their life.  Chickens do not need antibiotics to grow and be healthy. Chickens raise their own resistance by being a their natural environment. Farmers focus on good husbandry (breeding and caring for farm animals ) practices such as sanitation. All chickens are hormone-free. Despite numerous marketing and labeling statements by many egg producers, hormones have not been used in the poultry industry for over 50 years. So whether you see a carton of eggs that have “hormone-free” on it or not be assured that the the eggs are hormone-free. Read more

• Who: Terra Brockman, Author and Guest speaker
• What: Green Chatter Matter – Book ” The Seasons on Henry’s Farm”
• When: Tuesday, February 2, 2010 at 7 p.m.
• Where: Inglenook Pantry, 11 North Fifth Street, Geneva IL 60134 630.377.0373

There’s a new, huge movement rolling through Kane County and beyond. Throughout our communities, locals have become ecstatic for year round farm-fresh, regional foods and recipes. Finding viable, fresh alternatives to repetitive grocery store products has become high on our list!

Read more

Tyson Foods Inc. has agreed to settle a lawsuit that accused the poultry giant of misleading consumers with labels claiming its chickens were “raised without antibiotics.”
Under the proposed settlement, Springdale, Ark.-based Tyson would pay up to $50 to anyone who bought the wrongly labeled poultry.

The total value of the settlement is $5 million, not including $3 million in attorneys’ fees. If Tyson doesn’t give that much money back to consumers, it will donate the difference to food banks.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs and for Tyson have asked a federal judge in Baltimore to grant preliminary approval to the settlement on Friday. At that point, Tyson would begin a national print and Internet advertising campaign to let people know how they can claim their refunds.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Micheal Pollan was recently a featured gust on on point with Tom Ashbrook, discussing his latest work –  Food Rules.

Pollan says that inspiration for his latest work came from a doctor-actually, a couple of them. ”They had read my last book, ‘In Defense of Food’, which ended with a handful of tips for eating well: simple ways to navigate the treacherous landscape of modern food and the often-confusing science of nutrition. “What I would love is a pamphlet I could hand to my patients with some rules for eating wisely,” they would say. “I don’t have time for the big nutrition lecture and, anyway, they really don’t need to know what an antioxidant is in order to eat wisely.” Pollan listened.

Listen to the complete interview On Point with Tom Ashbrook: Michael Pollen on food rules for a better life. Pollan’s previous works include “In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto”, “The Omnivore’s Dilemma”. “Second Nature” and “A Place of My Own” and is a regular contributer to the New York Times Magazine.

We’ve all seen the commercials touting the virtues of high-fructose corn syrup highlighting the fact that, in theory, little is known about the negative effects of corn syrup. The commercial neglects to share any of the positive aspects of this man made sweetener but nonetheless may leave the viewer wondering “Is it really just hype?” Modern day marketing at it’s finest. Touching upon the proverbial tip of the iceberg, following are just a few of many reasons to avoid high fructose corn syrup whenever possible.

Last January 28, 2009, the Washington Post published an article entitled Study Finds High-Fructose Corn Syrup Contains Mercury. Read more

The Geneva Green Market, NFP is looking for volunteers! We have so many exciting things we hope to do this year, and we will only be able to accomplish our goals with your help. From one-time events to involvement with ongoing projects, there is an opportunity for everyone to contribute, helping ensure that the Geneva Green Market, NFP remains a vibrant, fresh, exciting part of our community. The Market thrives on its volunteer staff. Without our volunteers the Market wouldn’t be what it is Read more

A heartfelt new story detailing life through 52 “seasons” on a biologically diverse, sustainable farm located in the Mackinaw River Valley of central Illinois, where the Brockman family has lived and farmed for five generations.

Through engaging family stories, literary and scientific reflections, and week-to-week farm events, The Seasons on Henry’s Farm is a mindful and mouthwatering invitation to eat great food grown by people near you. By taking readers on a journey through a year in the life of small-scale farmers committed to producing healthy, nutritious food in a way that enriches the land for generations to come, Terra Brockman appeals to all who not only eat to live, but who live to eat.

Terra Brockman Writer. Speaker. Food and Farm. In 2002, she founded The Land Connection, a nonprofit working to save farmland, train new sustainable farmers, and connect consumers with fresh local foods. It all started when a For Sale sign appeared near Terra’s family farm one late spring day in 2002. The following year TLC was successfully able to save it’s first parcel of IL farmland. As posted on there website:

The Land Connection envisions community-based food systems in the Midwest,
in which every farmer has the opportunity to grow food in a sustainable manner, and every person has the choice to enjoy local and organic foods.

As part of there fund raising efforts, The Land Connection publishes a
stunningly photographed wall calendar containing fascinating fun facts about gardening, agriculture, and food history with plenty of room to fill in your own events and facts.

This Saturday, come meet Terra and get a copy The Season’s on Henry’s Farm. The Land Connection calendars will be available as well. They make great gifts, and don’t forget to pick copies for yourself while your too. Fresh vegetables from Henry’s farm will also be available.

This Saturday, the Holiday Festival Market, is the final market before we return on January 9th, 2010. This will be your last chance to purchase your Holiday ham, lamb and other meats. If you have never had pastured meat and are a bit hesitant come see Jennifer Downing of Nourish do a cooking demo with free-range ham.

We guarantee it will be one of the best hams you ever tasted. Winter market and vegetables? Yes! –and plenty of them. Tables overflowing with fresh, locally grown vegetables from the traditional root crops to tender leaf greens, salad mix and micro greens. You’ll have to see it to believe it. Homemade fresh baked goods with seasonal flavors; Holiday spice pound cake, honey pecan rolls, French baguettes and other breads, spiced pecans and almonds.

Wine Time (http://winetimegenevail.com) of Geneva will be sampling wines. The temperature may be cold and dreary outdoors but at the Community Winter Market it’s cozy and alive. There is too much to list it all. So if you haven’t been by the Community Winter Market yet, stop on by and say hello.

Still at a loss with what to get the foodie people in your life, dedicated environmentalist, or finding just the right something to help someone who doesn’t know, or isn’t sure, how and where they can eat more locally and get product. Determined to be an eco-conscious gift giver this season? Choosing appropriate gifts for the people on one’s list can be challenging enough. Introduce them to a Geneva Green Market, NFP (http://www.genevagreenmarket.org/about-us/membership) with a Geneva Green Market, NFP Membership.

There are several membership levels to choose: seed, planting, sprouting, growing, harvest and Geneva Green Market Benefactor. Membership contributions help support educational demos, lectures and programs. Some of the benefits that GGM, NFP members get are discounts and specials to classes and events and local merchants that are only available through a GGM, NFP membership. Geneva Green Market, NFP Membership: the gift that keeps on giving all around.